Arias resumes testimony in Arizona murder trial

Jodi Arias, left, demonstrates how she had her arm around her sister in a photograph that had been admitted into evidence Monday March 4, 2013 in Phoenix. She put her arm around defense attorney Jennifer Willmott during redirect from defense attorney Kirk Nurmi. Arias is on trial for the murder of Travis Alexander in 2008. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Tom Tingle, POOL )

PHOENIX (AP) — Jodi Arias is set to resume testimony in her Arizona death penalty case after explaining to jurors that she took the witness stand willingly, understanding her numerous lies would be picked apart by prosecutors.

The 32-year-old is charged in the June 2008 killing of her lover in his suburban Phoenix home. She says it was self-defense, but police say she planned the attack on Travis Alexander in a jealous rage. Arias initially told authorities she had nothing to do with Alexander’s death, then blamed it on masked intruders before settling on self-defense.

Arias’ attorney on Monday worked again to portray the victim as a sexual deviant who coerced Arias to fulfill his fantasies. She is set to resume testimony on Tuesday after nearly two weeks on the stand.